There's a statement online that's circulating on Facebook and Reddit stating an opinion on the shooting that happened Friday in Connecticut. The statement is being linked to a well known Hollywood actor, Morgan Freeman. The statement, in actuality, comes from a man by the name of Mark from Vancouver. Even though the statement doesn't come from a well respected Oscar winner, it still rings true. This is what Mark had to say about the shooting and why the news reports primarily focuses on the killer rather than the victims:
"You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here's why.
It's because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and
watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall
shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household
names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine?
Disturbed people who would otherwise just off themselves in their
basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and
going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because
he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.
CNN's article says that if the body count "holds up", this will rank as
the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics
somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video
interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and
heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the
killer's face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news
stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity?
None that I've seen yet. Because they don't sell. So congratulations,
sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this
and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.
You
can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering
the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental
health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You
can help by turning off the news.
Now isn't that advise that every news corespondent, anchor, and television station should take into consideration? I totally agree with his statement, and even though I know his advise will probably be overlooked, the majority of the public probably agrees with him as well.
If your wanting to know about the names of the victims and read about them individually, go to: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/15/us/connecticut-shooting-victims/index.html
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Need a Photographer?
I just recently made a page on Facebook for my photography. Are you in need of a Photographer and not sure exactly where you can find one? Well if your in need of a photographer then I'm your guy. I specialize in event, wedding, product, model, and portrait photography. I also work as a graphic and creative artist, and I'm able to create murals, portraits, logos, t-shirt, and Photoshop designs. I also have a website you can check out at Livingstonoden.com. You can find my facebook page here, and while your at it like my page. Take a look at a couple examples below.
This was taken at a wedding, last year in October.
A Photoshopped picture for a musician to post on her website.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo. Edited in Photoshop.
This was taken at a wedding, last year in October.
A Photoshopped picture for a musician to post on her website.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo. Edited in Photoshop.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thorns of Passion
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Its A Good Day To Die Hard
It's A Good Day To Die Hard Trailer
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The World Isn't All Bad...It Just Feels Like It Is.
I hear things all the time that the world is in total chaos, the end is near, and doomsday is upon us. It's true that things are looking dismal lately, but I seriously doubt that the end of the world is just around the corner. In reality nobody knows exactly when the end of the world will happen, it's not even stated in the Bible. Things seem bad in the world. Our government spends money as if we have an endless supply of it, while our deficit grows with every passing day. Terrorist's want the U.S. to burn, while we fight a war that's very unpredictable with no end in sight. Bombings happen daily overseas, and random shootings at schools and movie theaters are plastered all over the television. After all I have mentioned and with the upcoming ending of the Mayan calender, people seem to get the idea that everything will end soon, and honestly I don't blame them.
Lets go back about seventy years and take a look at how the world was then. World War 2 was just beginning for the United States after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Our government was in debt, people were poor, and things were looking grim. The Nazi's were slowly taking control of Europe. There were even random shootings happening in schools, city streets, and anywhere else you can think of. Now if you compare what was happening then with whats going on now, doesn't the comparison almost parallel each other?
Now go back another seventy to eighty years. Our country was split into two parts, the civil war was in full force, slavery was welcomed in the south, the government was slaughtering Native Americans, and a president was assassinated as the country was slowly falling apart with no hope for the United States. Doesn't it almost look as if a pattern is forming here? The farther you go back into our history, the worse things seem to get. Before the civil war we had the Revolutionary War as the U.S. fought for independence from England. Things were even worse in the century where Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic. The Black Plague killed close to 75 to 200 million people in the four years that it was at its peak, which is close to sixty percent of the worlds population at that time.
Today the argument that things are bad in these modern times because of how rapidly the environment is changing around us still arises. It's true that the polar ice caps are melting and even some weather patterns around the world are different than they were twenty years ago. The devastation the record setting outbreak of tornadoes caused last year in the south east of the United States made religious fanatics go in a tizzy, stating it was Gods wrath at work. What most don't seem to remember is that a record setting outbreak of tornadoes also struck the south east in the early seventies, killing quite a few people. The same goes for hurricane Katrina. One of the worst hurricanes in the last twenty years, but go back to the early nineties and you get hurricane Andrew. What made Katrina so bad were the levy's that broke, killing most of the population that stayed behind. As a storm goes though, hurricane Andrew was a worse storm in terms of strength. One hundred years prior to Katrina, another hurricane hit the east coast of the U.S. killing thousands. Bad weather happens all the time and like anything else it comes in phases. Our National Weather Service has only been keeping records for the last 150 years. There is close to a couple billion years before records were even kept that we have no idea how bad weather patterns might have been before a human being was able to comprehend his surroundings. There is scientific findings throughout the history of the world were the earth went through drastic climate changes, either getting very hot or very cold in a short amount of time. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the earth has gone through at least three ice age's in the last one-hundred thousand years. Things change!
What I'm basically getting at is the world seems to be in a bad place right now, and a lot of it should be blamed on our technology. The internet, television, and cell phones feed us all of this bad information from around the world, which gives us the impression that everything is going straight to hell. In World War 2 we had no idea how bad things were over seas until the solders were sent back home and they told their families and friends just how bad things were. Today we see people dying on cobble stoned streets on CNN and a daily death toll of our solders through internet postings. Its sad to see the statistics and the news reels, but its true that we're constantly fed bad news on a daily bases. Sometimes its nice to just turn off your television, close your laptop, put you cell in your pocket, and just walk away from the bad news from time to time. As for the weather and how things are changing, its happened before just as its happening now. The world isn't ending just because the temperature has risen a few degree's or a major storm kills hundreds; these things happen and will keep happening. Just go with the flow, and don't worry so much.
Lets go back about seventy years and take a look at how the world was then. World War 2 was just beginning for the United States after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Our government was in debt, people were poor, and things were looking grim. The Nazi's were slowly taking control of Europe. There were even random shootings happening in schools, city streets, and anywhere else you can think of. Now if you compare what was happening then with whats going on now, doesn't the comparison almost parallel each other?
Now go back another seventy to eighty years. Our country was split into two parts, the civil war was in full force, slavery was welcomed in the south, the government was slaughtering Native Americans, and a president was assassinated as the country was slowly falling apart with no hope for the United States. Doesn't it almost look as if a pattern is forming here? The farther you go back into our history, the worse things seem to get. Before the civil war we had the Revolutionary War as the U.S. fought for independence from England. Things were even worse in the century where Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic. The Black Plague killed close to 75 to 200 million people in the four years that it was at its peak, which is close to sixty percent of the worlds population at that time.
Today the argument that things are bad in these modern times because of how rapidly the environment is changing around us still arises. It's true that the polar ice caps are melting and even some weather patterns around the world are different than they were twenty years ago. The devastation the record setting outbreak of tornadoes caused last year in the south east of the United States made religious fanatics go in a tizzy, stating it was Gods wrath at work. What most don't seem to remember is that a record setting outbreak of tornadoes also struck the south east in the early seventies, killing quite a few people. The same goes for hurricane Katrina. One of the worst hurricanes in the last twenty years, but go back to the early nineties and you get hurricane Andrew. What made Katrina so bad were the levy's that broke, killing most of the population that stayed behind. As a storm goes though, hurricane Andrew was a worse storm in terms of strength. One hundred years prior to Katrina, another hurricane hit the east coast of the U.S. killing thousands. Bad weather happens all the time and like anything else it comes in phases. Our National Weather Service has only been keeping records for the last 150 years. There is close to a couple billion years before records were even kept that we have no idea how bad weather patterns might have been before a human being was able to comprehend his surroundings. There is scientific findings throughout the history of the world were the earth went through drastic climate changes, either getting very hot or very cold in a short amount of time. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the earth has gone through at least three ice age's in the last one-hundred thousand years. Things change!
What I'm basically getting at is the world seems to be in a bad place right now, and a lot of it should be blamed on our technology. The internet, television, and cell phones feed us all of this bad information from around the world, which gives us the impression that everything is going straight to hell. In World War 2 we had no idea how bad things were over seas until the solders were sent back home and they told their families and friends just how bad things were. Today we see people dying on cobble stoned streets on CNN and a daily death toll of our solders through internet postings. Its sad to see the statistics and the news reels, but its true that we're constantly fed bad news on a daily bases. Sometimes its nice to just turn off your television, close your laptop, put you cell in your pocket, and just walk away from the bad news from time to time. As for the weather and how things are changing, its happened before just as its happening now. The world isn't ending just because the temperature has risen a few degree's or a major storm kills hundreds; these things happen and will keep happening. Just go with the flow, and don't worry so much.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Kicking Rocks With Opened Toed Shoes, Lets Help In Getting The Story Told.
In 2008, she was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, and even had to battle it two more times after going into remission. She works as a model and is also making it her mission in life to inspire others to never give up no matter what.
Kicking Rocks with Opened Toed Shoes, the title of her book, needs help in getting the funds so that she can spread the word about her story of hope, faith, and living life to the fullest. Please go to her kickstarter to read further about her story and hopefully donate what you can. If you can't donate, tell your friends about this article and maybe we can help make a difference. Below is the link to her kickstarter. Thank you.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/32433901/kick-rocks-with-open-toed-shoes?ref=email
Monday, September 24, 2012
Top Five Time Travel Films
Looper, a film starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt about hitmen in the past who kill people sent back from the future, will be released this Friday and it makes me wonder what is the greatest time travel movie of all time? Now my top five choices are primarily based on how good the story is and, in all honesty, my opinion on the films. My opinion is something you may or may not agree with but, this is just a blog. So if you have an opinion about what your favorites are, please comment. Now on to the countdown too my top five time travel films of all time.
5. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
The second film in the Terminator franchise and arguably the best in the series, with a box office take of $204,843,345 or $390,000,000 after you adjust for ticket prices. The film surpassed expectations when it was released in 1991 and paved the way for James Cameron to literally get what he asks for in Hollywood. Schwarzenegger returns as the unstoppable Terminator, but this time as the hero. The special effects were a break through for Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) and made it possible to create movies like Jurassic Park and the newer Star Wars trilogy.
The film centers on John Conner, the future leader of the resistance against the machines and his protection from an indestructible force sent back in time to kill him. T2 still holds up in look and feel, still able to produce thrills and nail biting action that many modern day action films try to recreate. There's talks of a fifth film with Arnold back in the title role. Its unknown as to when or if the film will be made but the thought of a possible sequel is still exciting.
4. The Final Countdown (1980)
An oldie but a goodie, The Final Countdown is about a naval air craft carrier that's torn from present day 1980 to December 6, 1941, the day before the bombing on Pearl Harbor. Its a great film with a premise that makes you ask, what would have happened if modern day technology existed in America's greatest time of need?
Kirk Douglas stars as the captain of the U.S.S. Nimitz, which is thrusted through time by an unexplained black hole that forms out in the middle of the Pacific. Soon the entire crew is baffled by there position and also the radio signals their intercepting. It doesn't take long for them to realize where they are, whats going to happen, and poses the question if they should intervene in history or let it unfold as it is written.
The film was a success at the box office but had mixed reviews from critics. The films special effects are dated, but as I said earlier, this is primarily about story not effects. Its a well written film and worth a watch if you ever come across it.
3. The Time Machine (1960)
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The oldest film on this list, and possibly the oldest movie I've ever written about. The Time Machine, based on H.G. Wells classic tale of a scientist and his journey through time is a classic in every sense of the word. Time lapse camera's captured his trek through time, which was something new to audiences at the time.
A scientist witnesses the rise and fall of man in a matter of decades, and is forced to travel to the year 802,701 by a massive lava flow that traps him and his time machine within the earth. When the earth finally erodes away, he sees that man has survived but with dramatic consequences, something he must change.
The film was a great success and even won the Academy Award for best special effects.
The Time Machine also had an unofficial sequel at the end of the documentary Time Machine: The Journey Back, which reunited the characters from the film played by Rod Taylor and Alan Young. The film also had a remake in 2002 starring Guy Pearce and directed by Simon Wells, the great grandson of H.G. Wells.
2. Somewhere in Time (1980)
Another film from 1980 starring the late Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour in this timeless love story about a man who will stop at nothing to find the woman he's been longing for his entire life, the only problem is he's 68 years too late in finding her.
The story centers on a playwright who travels out of town for vacation, making his way to the Grand Hotel. There he finds a picture of a woman, taken in the year 1912. He soon becomes fixated on the photo and begins looking for a way to get to her as he falls in love with the image.
I won't go into detail as to where the movie goes next, but he does find a way to go back in time, which is where the movie really picks up.
The film was panned by critics and underperformed at the box office. But time does heal some misfortunes and it soon developed a cult following and even changed most critic's minds, even if it was a couple decades later. The film is now considered a great masterpiece in some circles and remains as one of Reeve's best works in cinema.
1. Back to the Future (1985)
The biggest box office hit in 1985 still considered, by most, to be the greatest time-travel movie of all time. It produced two sequels and two years ago celebrated its 25th anniversary by re-releasing the film back into theaters during its jump to blu-ray.
Back to the Future centers on Marty McFly, a normal high school student who just happens to be best friends with a nutty professor, Doc Brown, who creates a time machine out of a DeLorean. Marty is soon sent back to 1955 by uncontrollable circumstances and meets his mother and father, who are still in high school and not at all what Marty envisioned.
Originally the role of Marty McFly went too Eric Stoltz, but two weeks into production he was fired from the role, which subsequently went to Micheal J. Fox. The role of Doc Brown was originally meant for John Lithgow, who turned the role down due to conflicting schedules. Christopher Lloyd was brought on board after turning the role down, but was soon told to take the role by his wife.
Notable Mentions" Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home, Twelve Monkey's, Source Code, Deja Vu.
Well there you have it. My list of the top 5 time traveling movies of all time. Who knew Back to the Future was going to be number one? If anyone has a different list of favorites, I would love to hear what you have to say.
5. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
The film centers on John Conner, the future leader of the resistance against the machines and his protection from an indestructible force sent back in time to kill him. T2 still holds up in look and feel, still able to produce thrills and nail biting action that many modern day action films try to recreate. There's talks of a fifth film with Arnold back in the title role. Its unknown as to when or if the film will be made but the thought of a possible sequel is still exciting.
4. The Final Countdown (1980)
Kirk Douglas stars as the captain of the U.S.S. Nimitz, which is thrusted through time by an unexplained black hole that forms out in the middle of the Pacific. Soon the entire crew is baffled by there position and also the radio signals their intercepting. It doesn't take long for them to realize where they are, whats going to happen, and poses the question if they should intervene in history or let it unfold as it is written.
The film was a success at the box office but had mixed reviews from critics. The films special effects are dated, but as I said earlier, this is primarily about story not effects. Its a well written film and worth a watch if you ever come across it.
3. The Time Machine (1960)
+1.jpg)
A scientist witnesses the rise and fall of man in a matter of decades, and is forced to travel to the year 802,701 by a massive lava flow that traps him and his time machine within the earth. When the earth finally erodes away, he sees that man has survived but with dramatic consequences, something he must change.
The film was a great success and even won the Academy Award for best special effects.
The Time Machine also had an unofficial sequel at the end of the documentary Time Machine: The Journey Back, which reunited the characters from the film played by Rod Taylor and Alan Young. The film also had a remake in 2002 starring Guy Pearce and directed by Simon Wells, the great grandson of H.G. Wells.
2. Somewhere in Time (1980)
The story centers on a playwright who travels out of town for vacation, making his way to the Grand Hotel. There he finds a picture of a woman, taken in the year 1912. He soon becomes fixated on the photo and begins looking for a way to get to her as he falls in love with the image.
I won't go into detail as to where the movie goes next, but he does find a way to go back in time, which is where the movie really picks up.
The film was panned by critics and underperformed at the box office. But time does heal some misfortunes and it soon developed a cult following and even changed most critic's minds, even if it was a couple decades later. The film is now considered a great masterpiece in some circles and remains as one of Reeve's best works in cinema.
1. Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future centers on Marty McFly, a normal high school student who just happens to be best friends with a nutty professor, Doc Brown, who creates a time machine out of a DeLorean. Marty is soon sent back to 1955 by uncontrollable circumstances and meets his mother and father, who are still in high school and not at all what Marty envisioned.
Originally the role of Marty McFly went too Eric Stoltz, but two weeks into production he was fired from the role, which subsequently went to Micheal J. Fox. The role of Doc Brown was originally meant for John Lithgow, who turned the role down due to conflicting schedules. Christopher Lloyd was brought on board after turning the role down, but was soon told to take the role by his wife.
Notable Mentions" Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home, Twelve Monkey's, Source Code, Deja Vu.
Well there you have it. My list of the top 5 time traveling movies of all time. Who knew Back to the Future was going to be number one? If anyone has a different list of favorites, I would love to hear what you have to say.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Why Care For Today's Celebrity?
I see these shows on television, like Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight, that are basically on the air to tell us all about celebrities and whats going on in their lives; when in reality, who actually cares about these people and what they do outside of the entertainment they create for the public?
I honestly don't care about Kim Kardashian and what her sisters are doing, nor do I care about their kids or men in their lives. What is the gain in knowing about these people? Does Tom Cruises divorce from Katie Holmes really effect my life? Answer is, no it doesn't! So I ask, what is it about celebrities that keeps people so interested in order for these so called television shows to stay on they air? The answer is simple really, we as the general public fantasize about the money and fame they've achieved, some more deserving of it than others. Do the Kardashian's deserve having a television show, making money just by living their lives and having a platform to basically sell their merchandise or new clothing line that they really didn't help develop? No, I don't think they do. I'm not trying to bash just the Kardashian's, but they seem to be at the forefront of celebrities that make a living at just living, not really doing anything of meaning to anyone but themselves.
The definition of a celebrity according to Wikipedia is: A person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media. The term is synonymous with wealth (commonly denoted as a person with fame and fortune), implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field, and is easily recognized by the general public.
Now with most of this definition, the Kardashian's do seem to fit in, and not to pounce on just them, lets throw in Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and everyone from The Jersey Shore. The one part of the definition for celebrity that seems to not pertain to any of the people I've listed so far is the part that says, "prominence in a particular field;" now what field would these people be considered prominent? If your answer is being a complete waste of paper in your local magazine or air time on television, then you have answered correctly. I'm sure these people have talent but its not why their popular.
A lot of people consider, all who I've listed above, a celebrity in some fashion. These people dumb down a society that is already in need of better guidance. Even the local news will have a story or two about these people, which have nothing to do with our everyday lives. I am in no way writing all these things because I'm jealous of them. I write this because reality television and celebrity news shows are a waste of time and have no influence on my life and shouldn't have any on yours.
Another show that I just can't stand is The View, the wonderful gabfest that goes on every weekday morning on ABC. Why exactly do we have these women on television giving us their opinion on world events? They hardly every state facts, instead they throw their opinions in other peoples faces and we watch from our living rooms, listening to pointless discussions on topics that either have great value to us or have no substance at all. Twenty years ago, we still had celebrity news, but it wasn't in everyone's face. Twitter and Facebook weren't even thought of yet, and most celebrities kept their mouth's shut on a good portion of topics, that today isn't considered as taboo anymore.
To me, a celebrity is a person who is in the public eye, but is only their when they have to be. I can't stand a celebrity that looks for the nearest camera to look at or tries to find the best way to get their names into the next issue of People Magazine. Now I do understand that some celebrities don't have a choice in the matter due to their status in the world.
What is so fascinating about seeing a famous person on vacation or at the airport? Are our lives so dull to where paparazzi have to go out and snap shots from the bushes in order to sell to the tabloids so we can view them on tv or on news stands? We should get up from our couches and go outside to through a football around or play a board game with our kids, friends, or loved ones instead of wasting our time with what other people are doing with their lives, people who we don't even know. We have better things to do with our lives than to worry about what some celebrity is doing. Why do you guys think about this article?
I honestly don't care about Kim Kardashian and what her sisters are doing, nor do I care about their kids or men in their lives. What is the gain in knowing about these people? Does Tom Cruises divorce from Katie Holmes really effect my life? Answer is, no it doesn't! So I ask, what is it about celebrities that keeps people so interested in order for these so called television shows to stay on they air? The answer is simple really, we as the general public fantasize about the money and fame they've achieved, some more deserving of it than others. Do the Kardashian's deserve having a television show, making money just by living their lives and having a platform to basically sell their merchandise or new clothing line that they really didn't help develop? No, I don't think they do. I'm not trying to bash just the Kardashian's, but they seem to be at the forefront of celebrities that make a living at just living, not really doing anything of meaning to anyone but themselves.
The definition of a celebrity according to Wikipedia is: A person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media. The term is synonymous with wealth (commonly denoted as a person with fame and fortune), implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field, and is easily recognized by the general public.
Now with most of this definition, the Kardashian's do seem to fit in, and not to pounce on just them, lets throw in Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and everyone from The Jersey Shore. The one part of the definition for celebrity that seems to not pertain to any of the people I've listed so far is the part that says, "prominence in a particular field;" now what field would these people be considered prominent? If your answer is being a complete waste of paper in your local magazine or air time on television, then you have answered correctly. I'm sure these people have talent but its not why their popular.
A lot of people consider, all who I've listed above, a celebrity in some fashion. These people dumb down a society that is already in need of better guidance. Even the local news will have a story or two about these people, which have nothing to do with our everyday lives. I am in no way writing all these things because I'm jealous of them. I write this because reality television and celebrity news shows are a waste of time and have no influence on my life and shouldn't have any on yours.
Another show that I just can't stand is The View, the wonderful gabfest that goes on every weekday morning on ABC. Why exactly do we have these women on television giving us their opinion on world events? They hardly every state facts, instead they throw their opinions in other peoples faces and we watch from our living rooms, listening to pointless discussions on topics that either have great value to us or have no substance at all. Twenty years ago, we still had celebrity news, but it wasn't in everyone's face. Twitter and Facebook weren't even thought of yet, and most celebrities kept their mouth's shut on a good portion of topics, that today isn't considered as taboo anymore.
To me, a celebrity is a person who is in the public eye, but is only their when they have to be. I can't stand a celebrity that looks for the nearest camera to look at or tries to find the best way to get their names into the next issue of People Magazine. Now I do understand that some celebrities don't have a choice in the matter due to their status in the world.
What is so fascinating about seeing a famous person on vacation or at the airport? Are our lives so dull to where paparazzi have to go out and snap shots from the bushes in order to sell to the tabloids so we can view them on tv or on news stands? We should get up from our couches and go outside to through a football around or play a board game with our kids, friends, or loved ones instead of wasting our time with what other people are doing with their lives, people who we don't even know. We have better things to do with our lives than to worry about what some celebrity is doing. Why do you guys think about this article?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Resident Evil: From Past To Present
When I watched the first film I wasn't thrilled with how the movie turned out. I was looking for the same scares and storyline that I've become accustomed to seeing in the games. Resident Evil instead gave us a different story with more thrills, action, and maybe a few nods to the game it was adapted from. I loved how the game was a mystery, slowly progressing into an action packed finale that made you feel as though you accomplished something. The movies missed on what the first few games achieved, missing out on what could have been a much different and scarier franchise.
Even with all the negativity I've just written, I still enjoy watching the films. I loved how the central character of Alice has progressed throughout the franchise and the action the films deliver. The games have even evolved into what the movies are all about, a shot em' up action extravaganza. I hear Resident Evil 6 is going to be more like the first few games, unlike four and five by the way.
Its has great action, even taking a few scenes from the games to help it along the way. In the end a few survivors make it out of the city, with Alice finding out she has a new power in which she uses her mind too destroy any hostels around her. We realize that another film is in the near future and Alice is still seeking to destroy the corporation that started this whole mess.
Alice is soon thrown into another small group of people, a few from the last film, as they try to survive. The group is trying to reach a signal that offers safety in Alaska. As the film comes to an end, a few people from the group make it to a chopper, flying to safety, and Alice is now in control of an army of her clones that were discovered by her after she kills the main villain in the film. Again the film is left open ended as she promises Wesker, the main antagonist in the video game series, that she's coming for him and Umbrella.
Alright, now that we're all caught with what has happened so far in the series, I'm curious if the fifth film will follow the same formula. You can clearly see that each story is primarily about survival, with Alice fighting alongside a new group of people so she can reach her goal of destroying Umbrella. I'm wondering, by watching the trailer to the new film, why several characters who have died in past films are back in Resident Evil: Retribution; I'm guessing through a mixture of flashbacks and cloning, which is plausible within the Resident Evil universe. Its also filmed in 3D, which doesn't necessarily make it a better film, but it does mean the picture is clearer and more crisp. I also predict that it will be left open ended yet again to keep us on the edge of our seats for another look into the world that is Resident Evil. Paul W. S. Anderson is back for his third outing as director in the series and writer for the fifth time.
Anderson has taken the films down a different road than what I first imagined way back in 2002, but I've enjoyed the path he's taken. I'm curious as to where the series will go from here and what will happen to a franchise that seems to grow in popularity with every passing film.
Whats your favorite Resident Evil movie and do you think the franchise is worth the buck to see or should it die out and fade away?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Polybius Update: Teaser Poster
I have a new teaser poster for my film I'm doing with my co-director Taylor Olson. The film, if you don't know already, is called Polybius and is now in pre-production. The poster you see below will soon be a motion poster. If your unsure as to what a motion poster is, its when the poster has motion in it. For an example of what I'm talking about go here to see the motion poster for the new Judge Dredd film. Take a look at the image below and let me know what you think.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Old Fairytales Made Into Badass Movies
Remember when Hansel and Gretel were just two innocent children who walked into the wrong house, it turns out their story now goes further. After the siblings roasted a blind witch in her own oven, they've grown to become witch hunters who will stop at nothing to rid the world of the foul creatures. The trailer for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was just released and I must say it looks rather good, the trailer by the way can be found at the link I just posted in this sentence. Doesn't it seem as though a lot of our family friendly fairy tales are now being retold with a darker and more PG-13 feel or is it just me? Earlier this year it was Snow White and the Huntsman, which was a decent film by the way, with its more ready for battle princess and a darker witch. Now we have Hansel and Gretel coming out in January 2013. Whats next? Will we have Cinderella with a gatlin gun, fighting off her evil stepmother that's now turned into a massive serpent? I'd probably see the film if it existed, but Cinderella isn't going to be gracing the screen anytime soon.
I'm sure some of you are curious as to what's on the horizon for the fairytale. Well if you must know, Maleficent is in the works; a retelling of sleeping beauty from her arch nemesis's point of view, Angelina Jolie is playing the title character. Maleficent won't be released until 2014 but I do know that there are other fairytales in the works and will be here way before 2013 is done and over with. Jack the Giant Killer is set to be released next spring, based on the book of the same name. The story doesn't seem too be going into darker territory and looks like its staying true to the actual story, but its too soon to tell. There is a trailer if you care to check it out here.
Beauty and the Beast is even getting another chance, this time in live action with Guillermo del Toro in the director's chair and Emma Watson playing the beauty. Its set to be released next year with a darker version than we're used to based on del Toro's track record as a storyteller. No trailer or website is set for this, or even a description of whats to come, but I'm sure we'll get a good story, just by whose involved.
Even Peter Pan is getting a shot at the big screen once again, or should I say twice again. Both projects, still under than name Pan, are two very different stories. The first story is an origin story of all of the popular characters, Aaron Eckhart and Sean Bean are playing Captain Hook and Smee. The second film is actually a total flip from the original. Pan is now the villain in this modern-day murder mystery; he's now a killer with a youthful appearance who abducts small children, a far cry from how we typically see the character.
I enjoy seeing a retelling of a film or just another point of view, it gives us another look at a story we've either forgotten, never knew existed, or was lost within our youthful minds. The difference's between what kids see now and how they'll remember the character's is a far more darker version than the Disney friendly version that I grew up with, but at least the stories will still live on.
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| Angelina Jolie as Maleficent |
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| Nicholas Hoult playing J |
Beauty and the Beast is even getting another chance, this time in live action with Guillermo del Toro in the director's chair and Emma Watson playing the beauty. Its set to be released next year with a darker version than we're used to based on del Toro's track record as a storyteller. No trailer or website is set for this, or even a description of whats to come, but I'm sure we'll get a good story, just by whose involved.
Even Peter Pan is getting a shot at the big screen once again, or should I say twice again. Both projects, still under than name Pan, are two very different stories. The first story is an origin story of all of the popular characters, Aaron Eckhart and Sean Bean are playing Captain Hook and Smee. The second film is actually a total flip from the original. Pan is now the villain in this modern-day murder mystery; he's now a killer with a youthful appearance who abducts small children, a far cry from how we typically see the character.
I enjoy seeing a retelling of a film or just another point of view, it gives us another look at a story we've either forgotten, never knew existed, or was lost within our youthful minds. The difference's between what kids see now and how they'll remember the character's is a far more darker version than the Disney friendly version that I grew up with, but at least the stories will still live on.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
2012 Fall Premiere Shows...The Top 5 I'm Looking Forward Too
I know most of you can't wait for the new fall line up, thanking god that the dull summer season is finally over. Every new season brings in a few shows that we look forward too, hoping they do well enough too last for a second season. A few of my favorites from last year won't return, like The Finder starring Micheal Clarke Duncan who recently past away, and Alcatraz. With those shows that aren't returning we have new ones to take their place. Here's my top five picks for this coming fall.
5. The Neighbors
Another show from the mind of J.J. Abrams set in a post apocalyptic future. The world is now dark and its now 15 years after the event that changed the world. The series stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Tracy Spiridakos, Billy Burke and Giancarlo Esposito as a group of people trying to figure out what happened to the worlds technology and how to get it back. Revolution airs Monday, September 17th at 10/9c on NBC.
The shows premise is different. A nuclear submarine that goes rogue after defying an order to fire nuclear missles. The crew goes on the run and finds sanctuary at a NATO base. The submarine and crew declare themselves the worlds smallest nuclear station. I'm not sure from the premise of the show that it will hold up but the commercials for it really gets me energized to watch it. We shall see. Last Resort airs September 27th at 8/7c on ABC.
There are many other shows airing this fall but I like the looks of the shows I just posted above. What shows are you looking forward too?
5. The Neighbors
The Neighbors, a new show from ABC starring Jamie Gertz and Lenny Venito are a mother and father who move into a gated community with a few odd neighbors who turn out to be aliens. The show is different and puts a new spin on a show, closesly resembling 3rd Rock from the Sun but showing it from the humans point of view in knowing their whole community is filled with little green men and women. The Neighbors premieres Wednesday, September 26th at 8:30/7:30c.
4. Beauty and the Beast
Yes I know, its another show based on the popular tale of a woman who falls in love with a man, not for his looks but for his heart. Beauty and the Beast is a remake of a popular television series that aired in the eighties, this time starring Kristen Kreuk and Kiwi Jay Ryan. The beast is less of a beast and more of a man with just a scar on his face and the beauty, is well, still beautiful. The show intrigues me because I did like the original and I liked Smallville which Kreuk starred in. I don't think it will last but I bet it will have a cult following. Beauty and the Beast airs on Thursday, October 11th at 9/8c on the CW.
3. Elementary
A different spin on the Sherlock Holmes story with Holmes, played by Johnny Lee Miller, now a recovering addict who consults with the NYPD. Watson, played by Lucy Liu, a woman and former surgeon who helps her friend in solving the unsolvable cases. I like the new take on the story and look forward to how it will progress. Elementary airs Tuesday, September 25th at 10/9c on CBS.
2. Revolution
Another show from the mind of J.J. Abrams set in a post apocalyptic future. The world is now dark and its now 15 years after the event that changed the world. The series stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Tracy Spiridakos, Billy Burke and Giancarlo Esposito as a group of people trying to figure out what happened to the worlds technology and how to get it back. Revolution airs Monday, September 17th at 10/9c on NBC.
1. Last Resort
There are many other shows airing this fall but I like the looks of the shows I just posted above. What shows are you looking forward too?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Avengers And The Dark Knight Rises Debate.
The last few blogs I've written have been primarily based on either The Dark Knight Rises or The Avengers, and rightfully so since they're the first and second top grossing movies this year. If you read any article or blog based on these movies, even if the other movie isn't mentioned, the comments below will state that either TDKR or The Avengers is the better movie of the two. My opinion will come in a paragraph or so, but why even mention what movie is better? Why does there even have to be a debate on what movie is the best?
I hear the same argument over and over again for The Avengers being the better movie of the two. There's always mention that The Avengers has made over $600 million domestically, while TDKR has made $423 million to date. Yes, its true, The Avengers has made more money. It's also true that its more of a family friendly film over TDKR. It's also true that The Avengers has a better rating on rottentomatoes.com over TDKR by five percent.
Now the argument for TDKR. I hear fans saying this movie has more of a storyline and character development than The Avengers. It's a darker film with more emotion and it packs a punch with its action and climatic finally. Its also the last film in The Dark Knight trilogy, which to some people this means more than a start of a new trilogy like The Avengers. TDKR is also ranked number 22 in IMDB's top 250 films of all time while The Avengers is ranked 75.
Now my thoughts on the whole debate on what movie is better. Yes, The Avengers has made more money than TDKR, but you also have to take into account that there was a shooting at the midnight showing of TDKR. The shooting did cause quite a few people from not wanting to see the film in theaters. You also have to take into account that TDKR wasn't shown in 3D, which really boosts a films box office like The Avengers. As for critics rating The Avengers at 92% on rotten tomato versus 87% for TDKR, those percentages are just a bit to close to call and in reality they both are very good ratings to have for a film. The character development for The Dark Knight Rises and story is much better than in The Avengers, but honestly, why develop characters that we've already been introduced to in past films. The only character's who really needed to have development was Hawkeye and we have a good idea what he's about in the first place. The villain Loki was even introduced prior to the release of the film. The Dark Knight Rises on the other hand had a new villian and several new characters, which did call for more character development. It was also the end of the trilogy, which meant the storyline couldnt leave anything open for another film. The Avengers has a lot more story to tell and sequels to do it in.
Honestly they're both great films and they both have a different feel to them. If you really want my honest opinion on the matter. The Dark Knight Rises wins in my book for several reasons, Batman is just one character while The Avengers is based on roughly seven comic book heroes. Its not really a fair comparison. Now if it were The Justice League against The Avengers, then I could go along with that argument. If your wanting to be fair in this, then place Batman against Iron Man or The Hulk. Yes I know, Batman defeated both at the box office, but that is a fair match rather than placing The Dark Knight against seven different characters. Batman is a more beloved character and wins against all else in this race, but if he's against several heroes then its understandable as too why he's not on top. Case closed.
Now the argument for TDKR. I hear fans saying this movie has more of a storyline and character development than The Avengers. It's a darker film with more emotion and it packs a punch with its action and climatic finally. Its also the last film in The Dark Knight trilogy, which to some people this means more than a start of a new trilogy like The Avengers. TDKR is also ranked number 22 in IMDB's top 250 films of all time while The Avengers is ranked 75.
Now my thoughts on the whole debate on what movie is better. Yes, The Avengers has made more money than TDKR, but you also have to take into account that there was a shooting at the midnight showing of TDKR. The shooting did cause quite a few people from not wanting to see the film in theaters. You also have to take into account that TDKR wasn't shown in 3D, which really boosts a films box office like The Avengers. As for critics rating The Avengers at 92% on rotten tomato versus 87% for TDKR, those percentages are just a bit to close to call and in reality they both are very good ratings to have for a film. The character development for The Dark Knight Rises and story is much better than in The Avengers, but honestly, why develop characters that we've already been introduced to in past films. The only character's who really needed to have development was Hawkeye and we have a good idea what he's about in the first place. The villain Loki was even introduced prior to the release of the film. The Dark Knight Rises on the other hand had a new villian and several new characters, which did call for more character development. It was also the end of the trilogy, which meant the storyline couldnt leave anything open for another film. The Avengers has a lot more story to tell and sequels to do it in.
Honestly they're both great films and they both have a different feel to them. If you really want my honest opinion on the matter. The Dark Knight Rises wins in my book for several reasons, Batman is just one character while The Avengers is based on roughly seven comic book heroes. Its not really a fair comparison. Now if it were The Justice League against The Avengers, then I could go along with that argument. If your wanting to be fair in this, then place Batman against Iron Man or The Hulk. Yes I know, Batman defeated both at the box office, but that is a fair match rather than placing The Dark Knight against seven different characters. Batman is a more beloved character and wins against all else in this race, but if he's against several heroes then its understandable as too why he's not on top. Case closed.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Greatest Summer Blockbuster Of All Time.
The Summer movie season has ended, and even though its a sad time for moviegoers, we look back with fond memories of films that made us cry, cheer, and scream. Lets look further back though, past the summer of 2012 and see if we can maybe find the ultimate summer blockbuster.
I can't start this list without mentioning the first summer blockbuster, the 1975 film Jaws. If you didn't know by now, Jaws was the first film to ever pass the two-hundred million dollar mark, a feat no one saw coming when the film was released. The budget ballooned way past what most producers put into it, and with a faulty shark, happily named bruce that never seemed to work, the film looked to be on its way to a box office blunder. Who knew that the lack of seeing the shark in the film would make it a success. It turns out that since the shark wasn't working, Steven Spielberg would shoot the scenes with the point of view of the shark, rather than what everyone else sees. The camera zooming past kicking legs beneath the surface of the water was more traumatizing than seeing the the shark itself. The anticipation of an attack gave the audience more chills and thrills. Jaws has gone on to become a classic in the horror genre, bringing to life a new genre of film and even spawning three sequels, all of which couldn't hold a candle to the original. The blu-ray release of the film is now available for the first time this month. But is Jaws the ultimate summer movie, or was it just the first?
Two years after the release of the first summer blockbuster, we find ourselves in a new territory that most movie makers can only dream of being in with the release of Star Wars. I'm sure most Star Wars fans are looking for A New Hope to come after the title but when the film first arrived in theaters it was just called Star Wars, so that's what I'm sticking with. Star Wars went on to become the highest grossing picture of all time, and it held onto that position for twenty years, until the release of Titanic. Star Wars has gone on to have multiple re-releases and is due to come back to theaters in 2015 with a conversion to 3D. Adjusted for ticket prices and inflation, Star Wars is the second highest grossing film of all time, just behind Gone With The Wind. Two sequels were released several years after the original along with three prequels twenty years after that. The franchise has become a phenomenon and still lives through novels, television shows, and conventions. It has held the test of time and still builds upon its already massive fan base with every passing year.
Raiders of the Lost Ark, too some the ultimate action adventure movie of all time, too others just another box office success from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas; too me, the greatest movie of all time. I won't be biased though and will play fair with this list. When Indiana Jones was first thought of in the mind of George Lucas, he wanted to create a movie based on the 1950's serials he grew to love. With those thoughts and a director who was wanting to direct a James Bond picture, Spielberg and Lucas joined forces to create a character named after the family dog, carried a whip, and wore a fedora. Indiana Jones was re-released in 82 and 83 and is soon due to come out in IMAX for two weeks in September, coinciding with its release to blu-ray. The film has garnered three sequels with a possible fifth in the works, of course most would probably like to forget the last one in the franchise. The film is still considered the consequential adventure film of all time, who would deny that?
Alright, I know that it seems as though I'm showing favoritism towards Steven Spielberg, due to the fact that he's been on this list three out of the four movies posted. Who are we too deny though that he practically ruled the summer in the 80's and 90's? Jurassic Park is the first time we actually got to see dinosaurs walk the earth the way they might of done so 65 million years ago. Any film released prior to Jurassic Park with a dinosaur in it was nothing compared to what audiences witnessed in 1993. It was the first film I seen twice in theaters and it still looks great on screen. The special effects used were still experimental but they still hold up to what comes out presently. Jurassic Park has had two sequels, both being successful with a fourth in the works. Next year it will be re-released in 3D, and what a treat that will be for whoever remembers the massive force of a footstep that audiences felt before the T-Rex first made its appearance on screen.
Spider-man does seem to be a little out of the ordinary from what I've put on this list previously, but we have to realize that when the year 2000 arrived, so did the dawn of the superhero era. Spider-man is the first film to reach over $100 million dollars at the box office in its opening weekend. It went on too gross over $400 million dollars and helped create a franchise that's still successful today. Looking back at the film, with its great score by Danny Elfman and wonderful direction from Sam Raimi, it finally showed us the hero we have read about for several decades. Spider-man isn't the oldest character to grace this list, nor is he the most popular, he is probably the nicest and most generous of the superheroes. Defending a city that considers him a threat but always protects the one girl he can never be without. The take on the hero was a little campy, but the charm of the film and its characters outweighed the bad and gave us a summer blockbuster that audiences fell in love with.
The second superhero to grace this list and probably the most popular of all of them. He first graced the screen in 1989 with Micheal Keaton (great article with Keaton about Batman here.)behind the cowl. We lost all hope for the character in 1997 with Batman and Robin, but in 2005 we witnessed what it takes to be more than just a man, but a symbol that everyone can stand behind. In 2008 though, Batman reached new heights and praise that no one thought was imaginable. The Dark Knight was released several months after one of its main stars died, creating a shadow over promoting the film. In some cases though, most believed that the success of the film came from the tragedy. I'd like to believe that the film deserved all of the success it received. The Dark Knight has gone on to become on of the greatest superheroes films of all time and too some, on of the greatest films to be made. It was a critical success as well, and even received an Oscar for best supporting actor for Heath Ledger's role as the Joker. The film sits with only three others to ever cross the $500 million dollar mark.
The last movie on this list and also the latest to be released. The Avengers, the highly anticipated film that most had been waiting for since the release of Iron Man in 2008. The film has grossed over $600 million dollars domestically, the third film to ever do so and is also the first film to cross the $200 million mark in just three days. In reality, its the fifth most popular in terms of adjusted box office. Even so though, its rare to see a movie nowadays even cross the $600 million mark. Most of our favorite Marvel superheroes team up in this gem of a film to fight the villian Loki from world domination. A sequel is in the works with a release date being in 2015, to long of a wait if you ask me. Our favorite heroes though will still come to visit us with the release of Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World next year, along with Captain America: The Winter Solder in 2014. Josh Whedon is set to helm The Avengers along with the original cast coming back for more, with maybe a few new faces to join them along the way.
Alright so, after all of that and seven movies to choose from. What would you consider to be the greatest summer blockbuster of all time? This is of course my opinion, and no you don't have to agree with my choices. In the end I would have to choose Star Wars, not because of how much money its made or how many fans its accumulated over the years, but because of how long its been around. For a film to still be as popular today as it was back in 1977 is something that can't be ignored. Of course there are films on here that are just as memorable but Star Wars hasn't lost its traction and is still considered a great film to new and old generations.
I can't start this list without mentioning the first summer blockbuster, the 1975 film Jaws. If you didn't know by now, Jaws was the first film to ever pass the two-hundred million dollar mark, a feat no one saw coming when the film was released. The budget ballooned way past what most producers put into it, and with a faulty shark, happily named bruce that never seemed to work, the film looked to be on its way to a box office blunder. Who knew that the lack of seeing the shark in the film would make it a success. It turns out that since the shark wasn't working, Steven Spielberg would shoot the scenes with the point of view of the shark, rather than what everyone else sees. The camera zooming past kicking legs beneath the surface of the water was more traumatizing than seeing the the shark itself. The anticipation of an attack gave the audience more chills and thrills. Jaws has gone on to become a classic in the horror genre, bringing to life a new genre of film and even spawning three sequels, all of which couldn't hold a candle to the original. The blu-ray release of the film is now available for the first time this month. But is Jaws the ultimate summer movie, or was it just the first? 
Alright so, after all of that and seven movies to choose from. What would you consider to be the greatest summer blockbuster of all time? This is of course my opinion, and no you don't have to agree with my choices. In the end I would have to choose Star Wars, not because of how much money its made or how many fans its accumulated over the years, but because of how long its been around. For a film to still be as popular today as it was back in 1977 is something that can't be ignored. Of course there are films on here that are just as memorable but Star Wars hasn't lost its traction and is still considered a great film to new and old generations.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Olympics
The games are coming to a close and we'll have to wait another four years to watch the worlds best athletes compete against one another for gold, which saddens me after becoming accustomed to hearing the Olympic anthem blare throughout the house everyday for the last two weeks. Even though the Olympics will return in two years when the best winter athletes battle against one another, its the summer Olympics that catches my attention more so than any other event. Have you ever wondered where the Olympics originated from? Most people know the Olympics originates from Greece but most don't know that it was a pagan festival with only one sport, a 192 meter footrace that was first documented in 776 B.C. The footrace was won by a cook named Coroebus, the very first Olympian. Roughly three hundred years later the christian emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan festivals, including the Olympics.
Almost 1,500 years later a man by the name of Baron Pierre de Coubertine, who became inspired by the original Olympic stadium after visiting Greece, proposed an idea to Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris to bring back the Olympics. Two years later, the barons proposal was approved and soon he founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 1896 the first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece. At the opening ceremonies King Georgios I and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed 280 participants from 13 nations to compete in 43 events.
The official symbol of the games are five interlocking rings, symbolizing the five regions who compete in the games. The Olympic flag flew for the first time at the Antwerp games in 1920.
In 1924 the Winter Olympics debut with events such as figure skating, bobsledding, and the biathlon. Eighty years later at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, 11,000 athletes from 201 nations came to compete, a far cry from the first Olympics in 1896.
Now what most don't know is that there is a theme song for the Olympics written by Greek composer Spyridon Samaras called The Olympic Hymm. The song was written for the first Olympic games and has been a part of every opening ceremony since 1960. Most people don't really know the song nor would they even know its origins if they heard the music, but in 1958 a composer by the name of Léo Arnaud composed Bugler's Dream, but wasn't meant to be an Olympic theme. It was just a song he had on an album called Charge!, an album that never went anywhere, not until ABC Sports decided to use the theme during its telecast in 1968. Bugler's Dream soon became the unofficial theme to the televised Olympic games. In 1984 though, that melody would be transformed forever when the Los Angeles Organizing Committee commissioned John Williams to compose a theme for the opening ceremony. The theme conducted by Williams called Olympic Fanfare and Theme was soon adopted in with the Bugler's Dream and is now played during the Olympic telecast today.
Four years will go by quick and we'll be watching the 31st annual Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro before you know it. We will welcome back familiar athletes and learn the names of the new ones that are competing for our country. We'll take two weeks out of our lives and stop to see the records they might break and watch in astonishment at things we never thought the human body is capable of doing. I look forward to those two weeks, not because I look on in awe at the accomplishments of what hard work will grant you, I look forward to it because it reminds me that dreams do come true.
Almost 1,500 years later a man by the name of Baron Pierre de Coubertine, who became inspired by the original Olympic stadium after visiting Greece, proposed an idea to Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris to bring back the Olympics. Two years later, the barons proposal was approved and soon he founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 1896 the first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece. At the opening ceremonies King Georgios I and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed 280 participants from 13 nations to compete in 43 events.
The official symbol of the games are five interlocking rings, symbolizing the five regions who compete in the games. The Olympic flag flew for the first time at the Antwerp games in 1920.
In 1924 the Winter Olympics debut with events such as figure skating, bobsledding, and the biathlon. Eighty years later at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, 11,000 athletes from 201 nations came to compete, a far cry from the first Olympics in 1896.
Now what most don't know is that there is a theme song for the Olympics written by Greek composer Spyridon Samaras called The Olympic Hymm. The song was written for the first Olympic games and has been a part of every opening ceremony since 1960. Most people don't really know the song nor would they even know its origins if they heard the music, but in 1958 a composer by the name of Léo Arnaud composed Bugler's Dream, but wasn't meant to be an Olympic theme. It was just a song he had on an album called Charge!, an album that never went anywhere, not until ABC Sports decided to use the theme during its telecast in 1968. Bugler's Dream soon became the unofficial theme to the televised Olympic games. In 1984 though, that melody would be transformed forever when the Los Angeles Organizing Committee commissioned John Williams to compose a theme for the opening ceremony. The theme conducted by Williams called Olympic Fanfare and Theme was soon adopted in with the Bugler's Dream and is now played during the Olympic telecast today.
Four years will go by quick and we'll be watching the 31st annual Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro before you know it. We will welcome back familiar athletes and learn the names of the new ones that are competing for our country. We'll take two weeks out of our lives and stop to see the records they might break and watch in astonishment at things we never thought the human body is capable of doing. I look forward to those two weeks, not because I look on in awe at the accomplishments of what hard work will grant you, I look forward to it because it reminds me that dreams do come true.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Best Movie Of The Year So Far!
Its just past the half way mark for 2012, and even though there have been many good movies that have been released there is only one that tops them all. I know the year isn't over and we still have a lot coming up, such as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the next Bond film, but before I get to my number one pick I'll at least run you through my top five this year so far.
5.
Snow White and the Huntsman was chosen purely for its unique take on the classic tale. Of course the story of Snow White has been told several times, most popular being the 1937 animated film, but this one sticks out above all else for its originality and grand scale.
The acting from Kristen Stewart wasn't really up to par with the rest of the cast but then again its hard to hold a candle to Theron's Ravenna, a.k.a. The Evil Queen or Hemsworth's Huntsman.
The visual effects are truly stunning and the story is great with barely a moment to breath as it progressed. This was one of two Snow White stories that has been told this year, but Mirror Mirror is more for children, this story on the other hand is something more for younger adults and up. Since this isn't the best movie on this list it is still a decent film. I give Snow White and the Huntsman a three out of five stars.
4.
Prometheus, the back story to how one of the greatest movie monsters of all time came to being created, is mostly about man's mission to find the meaning of life and who our creator is. Ridley Scott goes back to what he does best as he unfolds a story that takes place in the Alien universe.
The acting is great as well as the visual effects with an ending that leaves us wondering when a sequel will emerge. If your curious how this story takes place within the Alien universe and how it ties into the Alien storyline, go back and watch the 1979 film and fast forward to the part where the crew explores a crashed alien ship. That one scene, which wasn't really meant to have a back story, spawned this movie and I must say it was worth a watch.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
3.
Now if I didn't place this movie on my list I'm sure I would probably get some criticism, but that isn't the reason why I placed this on my list. Its up here because it really is an excellent film, staying true to the characters from the comic books and giving us a thrilling action packed film that pulls us to the screen as we hang from the edge of our seats.
The Avengers is the number one movie of the year, the third highest grossing film of all time, and also one of the best reviewed films in recent memory.
Robert Downey Jr. leads a cast that most have been introduced to in prior fims, starting with Iron Man in 2008. This film is a great visual feast for any comic book fan and who doesn't like seeing New York City blown to bits for the thousandth time.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
2.
Its funny how one of the biggest movies of all time is on the same list as one of the biggest disappointments of the year. When I say disappointments, I mean just for the studio and if you like to know my further thoughts on this film refer to the post prior to this one.
John Carter might not be a studio favorite but its a very under appreciated film. It has a great story, great acting, and also superb visuals. It basically has everything for anyone who enjoys a good family movie with adventure, romance, sci-fi, and a bit of comedy to tie it all together.
I do hope I see a sequel but only time will tell what will happen and if we will see a continuation of a timeless classic.
I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.
1.
Last but not least, my favorite movie of the year so far is The Dark Knight Rises. After seeing The Dark Knight, I never would have thought that this movie would come close to how good the first sequel was but after walking out of the theater I thought it was just as good if not better.
I will agree with most that the Joker is a far more superior villain than Bane but who can deny how great it was to see Bane finally portrayed correctly.
The cast that we have come to love was excellent as usual and the added presence of Anne Hathaway was a great choice for the Catwoman role. There are a few surprises in this movie but all in all it was an excellent film with an ending that leaves you feeling satisfied.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars.
Of course this list is bound to change as the year progresses and I will definitely update it by years end, but a few movies that just might replace a few that you've read about above are: Total Recall, The Bourne Legacy, The Hobbit, Skyfall, and Cloud Atlas.
The list above is my opinion and you have the right to have a different one.
5.
The acting from Kristen Stewart wasn't really up to par with the rest of the cast but then again its hard to hold a candle to Theron's Ravenna, a.k.a. The Evil Queen or Hemsworth's Huntsman.
The visual effects are truly stunning and the story is great with barely a moment to breath as it progressed. This was one of two Snow White stories that has been told this year, but Mirror Mirror is more for children, this story on the other hand is something more for younger adults and up. Since this isn't the best movie on this list it is still a decent film. I give Snow White and the Huntsman a three out of five stars.
4.
The acting is great as well as the visual effects with an ending that leaves us wondering when a sequel will emerge. If your curious how this story takes place within the Alien universe and how it ties into the Alien storyline, go back and watch the 1979 film and fast forward to the part where the crew explores a crashed alien ship. That one scene, which wasn't really meant to have a back story, spawned this movie and I must say it was worth a watch.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
3.
The Avengers is the number one movie of the year, the third highest grossing film of all time, and also one of the best reviewed films in recent memory.
Robert Downey Jr. leads a cast that most have been introduced to in prior fims, starting with Iron Man in 2008. This film is a great visual feast for any comic book fan and who doesn't like seeing New York City blown to bits for the thousandth time.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
2.
John Carter might not be a studio favorite but its a very under appreciated film. It has a great story, great acting, and also superb visuals. It basically has everything for anyone who enjoys a good family movie with adventure, romance, sci-fi, and a bit of comedy to tie it all together.
I do hope I see a sequel but only time will tell what will happen and if we will see a continuation of a timeless classic.
I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.
1.
I will agree with most that the Joker is a far more superior villain than Bane but who can deny how great it was to see Bane finally portrayed correctly.
The cast that we have come to love was excellent as usual and the added presence of Anne Hathaway was a great choice for the Catwoman role. There are a few surprises in this movie but all in all it was an excellent film with an ending that leaves you feeling satisfied.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars.
Of course this list is bound to change as the year progresses and I will definitely update it by years end, but a few movies that just might replace a few that you've read about above are: Total Recall, The Bourne Legacy, The Hobbit, Skyfall, and Cloud Atlas.
The list above is my opinion and you have the right to have a different one.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Should There Be A John Carter Sequel?
Disney seemed to have put everything on the table for John Carter before it was released in March of this year, but no one thought that the grand spectacle would crash at the box office like it did. Over time though, the movie seems to have developed a fan base that grows with every passing month. John Carter seemed poised to drift away into the shadows, never to be viewed as a classic amongst the wide array of notable titles. Now, after looking over how the movie has progressed on dvd and blu-ray, we see that the movie is now finding traction and has developed into something that most filmmakers dream of, a cult classic. When John Carter was released on dvd and blu-ray it was the highest grossing film of the week, according Nielson ratings, and it was top 5 on the On Demand list for three weeks in a row.
Worldwide John Carter has grossed $282,000,000, according to boxofficemojo.com, a $32,000,000 profit. Of course adding another $50,000,000 to $100,000,000 for what went into advertising, John Carter is still vastly behind on making its money back. All this changed though after being released and made available for us to take home. Carter should now be in the red, with profits finally pouring into Disney, of course its not as much as they were hoping for.
Looking at the movie itself and its storytelling, we see that a lot of care and work went into the film. John Carter though, seemed to have gotten a bad rap from the start, showing previews that never showed the full potential of the film. Even the title has received a lot of negativity, due to the fact that its just a mans name and nothing more. A lot of people judge a book by its cover, some people judge on the title alone. The poster left a lot to the imagination leaving us wondering what the movie was truly about. All in all the advertising for the film was horrific, and never really did anything for the story. On the other hand, the advertising for the dvd and blu-ray release was another story. The previews showed an event film that most missed in theaters. The cover to the dvd and blu-ray's being sold was a better poster than the one seen in theaters. Take a look at the cover and poster comparison below and tell me which movie you'd rather see?
The problem with John Carter isn't the story, actors, or even the filmmakers. The two biggest problems was, the advertising, which I've already mentions, and the budget. The budget was a massive $250,000,000 dollars. John Carter wasn't ready for such a massive budget when trying to develop a new franchise for the public. A fan base wasn't even created for the film yet. The only audience this movie had were people who were fans of the books, which wasn't that big of a fan base when a movie is concerned. If the movie was to be released with the fan base it has now, there is no question that a sequel would have been green lit by now.
This is what I propose to Disney and how they should go about making everyone happy. The word is out that John Carter is a decent film now. Go ahead and make a sequel, but with a lower budget. Every epic film doesn't have to cost a whopping $200,000,000 or more to make. The fans just want a story told with the characters they fell in love with. The cast and crew have even reached out to the fans with wanting to make a sequel. Fans have banned together to sign a petition to get a sequel made, which you can find at: backtobarsoom.com. There is now a fan base that will make a sequel profitable for Disney. Take a chance on the public's views and maybe they might surprise you Disney.
Worldwide John Carter has grossed $282,000,000, according to boxofficemojo.com, a $32,000,000 profit. Of course adding another $50,000,000 to $100,000,000 for what went into advertising, John Carter is still vastly behind on making its money back. All this changed though after being released and made available for us to take home. Carter should now be in the red, with profits finally pouring into Disney, of course its not as much as they were hoping for.
Looking at the movie itself and its storytelling, we see that a lot of care and work went into the film. John Carter though, seemed to have gotten a bad rap from the start, showing previews that never showed the full potential of the film. Even the title has received a lot of negativity, due to the fact that its just a mans name and nothing more. A lot of people judge a book by its cover, some people judge on the title alone. The poster left a lot to the imagination leaving us wondering what the movie was truly about. All in all the advertising for the film was horrific, and never really did anything for the story. On the other hand, the advertising for the dvd and blu-ray release was another story. The previews showed an event film that most missed in theaters. The cover to the dvd and blu-ray's being sold was a better poster than the one seen in theaters. Take a look at the cover and poster comparison below and tell me which movie you'd rather see?
This is what I propose to Disney and how they should go about making everyone happy. The word is out that John Carter is a decent film now. Go ahead and make a sequel, but with a lower budget. Every epic film doesn't have to cost a whopping $200,000,000 or more to make. The fans just want a story told with the characters they fell in love with. The cast and crew have even reached out to the fans with wanting to make a sequel. Fans have banned together to sign a petition to get a sequel made, which you can find at: backtobarsoom.com. There is now a fan base that will make a sequel profitable for Disney. Take a chance on the public's views and maybe they might surprise you Disney.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Short Film: Dirty Laundry
Anybody else a fan of the 2004 film The Punisher starring Thomas Jane? Did anybody else watch Punisher: War Zone and wonder why they went with a different actor and decide to reboot a film that should have been a sequel instead? Well the video I have linked below is a short fan film of Thomas Jane reprising his role as the Punisher and kind of gives us a peak at where the character is today. Wouldn't it be something if they actually made a sequel of the Punisher that continued the story of Frank Castle with Jane back in the role? Oh you know it would be epic! Take a look!
Dirty Laundry Short
Dirty Laundry Short
Batman: End of a Trilogy
The last Dark Knight movie to be directed by Christopher Nolan is about to be released, and it kind of saddens me to see the popular franchise come to an end. When I first heard that a new batman would emerge yet again in 2005, I took a step back and kind of shaked my head at the notion that Warner Brothers was trying to resurrect a franchise that burned out with Batman and Robin (1997). Seven years later I look at the franchise in amazement at how well the story was told and also how popular the character had become.
When it was first brought to peoples attention in the late eighties that Batman would be brought back to the big screen, most were curious how the character would hold up. Some believed the film would be based on the 1960's television series starring Adam West, but in reality the film would primarily be based on how dark the character had become in the graphic novels, The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke. When the film was released in 1989, most said the character of Batman was to dark and the film seemed to follow the character of the Joker more so than the hero, audiences on the other hand made the film the number one movie of that year and went on to be the most successful Batman movie, holding that title up until the release of The Dark Knight. The film was followed by three sequels, the last being the nail in the coffin for the series.
The character of Batman seemed to have faded away from the silver screen, leaving us to enjoy the character through television and comic books. In 2005 though, that all changed with the release of Batman Begins; a retelling of the origins of Batman and how he developed into the feared hero of Gotham City. It was a more realistic telling of a hero we knew so well. We looked at Batman with a different view, he was now a character that an audience could relate to compared to the comedic version of the 60's or the surrealistic view of him in the 80's and 90's. The first two films have been a major success and with the release of The Dark Knight Rises, the Nolan directed story should become one of the most profitable trilogies in the history of cinema. The film is speculated to make north of $150 million dollars this coming weekend and will probably be the second highest grossing film this year, The Avengers being the first.
After the success of the trilogy and the climatic ending that most fans have been waiting for, we wonder what will happen to the character now? From several reports online, its a possibility that Batman will be remade with a different story, actor, and director at the helm with also talks of a Justice League of America movie possibly being connected. In all honesty though, the character should probably fade away after the release of Rises, and stay in hibernation for quite awhile. Studios seem to want to reboot everything that made a great deal of money How about we just let Batman fade out of our memories and bring him back when there is a true calling for his return. Time will tell what will happen to the beloved character.
When it was first brought to peoples attention in the late eighties that Batman would be brought back to the big screen, most were curious how the character would hold up. Some believed the film would be based on the 1960's television series starring Adam West, but in reality the film would primarily be based on how dark the character had become in the graphic novels, The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke. When the film was released in 1989, most said the character of Batman was to dark and the film seemed to follow the character of the Joker more so than the hero, audiences on the other hand made the film the number one movie of that year and went on to be the most successful Batman movie, holding that title up until the release of The Dark Knight. The film was followed by three sequels, the last being the nail in the coffin for the series.
The character of Batman seemed to have faded away from the silver screen, leaving us to enjoy the character through television and comic books. In 2005 though, that all changed with the release of Batman Begins; a retelling of the origins of Batman and how he developed into the feared hero of Gotham City. It was a more realistic telling of a hero we knew so well. We looked at Batman with a different view, he was now a character that an audience could relate to compared to the comedic version of the 60's or the surrealistic view of him in the 80's and 90's. The first two films have been a major success and with the release of The Dark Knight Rises, the Nolan directed story should become one of the most profitable trilogies in the history of cinema. The film is speculated to make north of $150 million dollars this coming weekend and will probably be the second highest grossing film this year, The Avengers being the first.
After the success of the trilogy and the climatic ending that most fans have been waiting for, we wonder what will happen to the character now? From several reports online, its a possibility that Batman will be remade with a different story, actor, and director at the helm with also talks of a Justice League of America movie possibly being connected. In all honesty though, the character should probably fade away after the release of Rises, and stay in hibernation for quite awhile. Studios seem to want to reboot everything that made a great deal of money How about we just let Batman fade out of our memories and bring him back when there is a true calling for his return. Time will tell what will happen to the beloved character.
Friday, July 13, 2012
New Project: Need Help
Alright boys and girls. I need everyone's help on this one and 30 days to do it in. It's doable, but we can't do it without you. My friend and I and developing a movie, but in order for us to do it it needs to be funded, that's where you come in. If you go to kickstarter, a site that helps people fund their projects, you can give what you can to our movie. If you can only donate a dollar, thats just fine. The more you give though the more perks you receive, all of which will be displayed on the link below.
The film is based on the characters Eric, Jimmy, and Reed, who are best friends and are attending high school together in Portland, Oregon in 1981. They decide one day to revisit one of their favorite middle school activities, which is playing at the local video arcade. Eric doesn’t seem to enjoy arcade games as much as he used to, despite being the best in the group. When they finally convince Eric to go, he tries out a new arcade game that nobody else seems to enjoy much. It’s title is….Polybius.
Eric wakes up two days after playing Polybius with no memory of what happened the previous day. He returns to that arcade, finding the arcade machine is gone. The arcade owner has no memory of it, and neither do his friends. But Eric does, and he makes it his mission to find out the mystery behind this game, who created it, what their goals are, and what happened to him that would cause him to forget an entire day. Our film will be true to the Polybius legend, while adding it’s own unique personality. I have looked into stories of those who contributed to Polybius, including Blister, Steven Roach, the fan game, and many other stories people have made to add to this urban legend.
If you would like to read more on the urban legend of Polybius, go here.
We would greatly appreciate anything you would like to donate. I will keep everyone up to date on what will develop in the near future. The link to the site where you can donate is here.
Below is also a teaser poster for the film. Thanks.
The film is based on the characters Eric, Jimmy, and Reed, who are best friends and are attending high school together in Portland, Oregon in 1981. They decide one day to revisit one of their favorite middle school activities, which is playing at the local video arcade. Eric doesn’t seem to enjoy arcade games as much as he used to, despite being the best in the group. When they finally convince Eric to go, he tries out a new arcade game that nobody else seems to enjoy much. It’s title is….Polybius.
Eric wakes up two days after playing Polybius with no memory of what happened the previous day. He returns to that arcade, finding the arcade machine is gone. The arcade owner has no memory of it, and neither do his friends. But Eric does, and he makes it his mission to find out the mystery behind this game, who created it, what their goals are, and what happened to him that would cause him to forget an entire day. Our film will be true to the Polybius legend, while adding it’s own unique personality. I have looked into stories of those who contributed to Polybius, including Blister, Steven Roach, the fan game, and many other stories people have made to add to this urban legend.
If you would like to read more on the urban legend of Polybius, go here.
We would greatly appreciate anything you would like to donate. I will keep everyone up to date on what will develop in the near future. The link to the site where you can donate is here.
Below is also a teaser poster for the film. Thanks.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Priscilla's Perfume
Alright everyone! My book is finally finished and up online for everyone's viewing pleasure. At the moment its only available as an e-book, but in the future I'm looking into getting a hard copy developed. Here's the link: Priscilla's Perfume. I hope everyone enjoys. Thanks!
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